A CHARITABLE Broadmayne woman is holding a coffee morning in the village to raise funds for The Leprosy Mission.

Margaret Mortimer, 85, pictured, has supported the international charity for many years and is now looking to raise cash for a woman who is currently walking 630 miles along the South West coast path to support the cause.

Mrs Mortimer will be holding the coffee morning on Thursday, June 2 at 11.15am at St Martin’s Community Hall in the village.

The Leprosy Mission is an international Christian development organisation that helps people with leprosy and works to raise the awareness of people to understand the disease.

Natalie Husk, 32, from Tiverton in Devon, is currently trekking to provide 1,000 leprosy-affected people with prosthetic legs or footwear.

She left for the 630-mile walk from Minehead on May 1 with her Dalmatian Toby and she is expected to reach Poole on June 30.

Miss Husk, who is the South West co-ordinator for The Leprosy Mission, will pass through Abbotsbury, Portland and Weymouth between June 25 and 27.

Mrs Mortimer said that when she heard about what Miss Husk was doing she felt she wanted to do something to help.

She said: “I don’t know Natalie at all but she represents The Leprosy Mission for the South West of England.

“I was so impressed with what she is doing, I thought: ‘I want to help her’. To set out to walk 630 miles in two months is really incredible.

“I have been interested in a lot of missionary societies for some years.”

Mrs Mortimer added: “I haven’t put a figure on how much I’m hoping to raise, but whatever we raise we also have got an anonymous donor who is happy to double whatever we make.

“I hope it will be a nice morning. People can have a coffee and a cake while raising money for good causes.”

To sponsor Miss Husk or for more information visit the South West events page of leprosymission.org.uk For details, call 01884 255566.